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Last year, Jim D’Amico survived Hurricane Milton.
The storm tore through Florida’s Gulf Coast, leading to the deaths of three residents and more than $35 billion in residential and commercial damages. Amid the chaos, D’Amico, who owns Century 21 Integra, leaped into action, using funds from the brokerage’s longstanding nonprofit, Fresh Start, to help Floridians who’d lost their homes and livelihoods get their lives back on track.
The footage of cars, homes, and torn belongings floating through Texas’s Hill Country after a 26-foot river surge, which resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people on Friday, reminded D’Amico of the aftermath of Milton. He realized he needed to step in once again.
“Fresh Start was developed originally for people in recovery who might need a place to live, people returning from the military, or anyone who had a situation where they couldn’t make ends meet to fulfill their basic needs, like housing,” he said. “And then the last couple of years, it’s kind of evolved into more of like an aid mission when areas are hit with storms.”
Jim D’Amico
D’Amico opened Fresh Start’s coffers and turned his four Hill Country offices into supply stations, with agents in Fredericksburg, Seguin, and San Antonio gathering essential goods, like bottled water and nonperishable food, and delivering them to the Kerrville office for distribution.
“This is a situation where there’s no amount of money that can help heal some of the losses that have taken place in this particular catastrophe, and honestly, you know, prayers are probably more needed than anything else to help people deal with the loss of their children and other loved ones,” he said. “But, we’re doing what we can.”
“We started fundraising on Monday, and in less than 24 hours, we’ve received $5,000,” he added. “We plan to match $25,000 in donations, with a long-term goal of raising $100,000. One hundred percent of everything that’s donated is given directly to people in need.”
Alongside individual brokers, major players are stepping up to the plate, using their broad networks to support survivors, affected families, and first responders who are still navigating dangerous terrain to locate missing victims before another week of dangerous thunderstorms rolls in.
KW Cares, the philanthropic arm of Texas-based franchisor Keller Williams, has spent the past several days checking on KW’s Hill Country offices and supporting first responders. KW Cares CEO Alexia Rodriguez said all of the franchisor’s Hill Country agents have been contacted and given assistance, which includes coverage of immediate needs and eventual access to emergency grants up to $5,000 and catastrophic hardship grants up to $30,000.
The franchisor also donated $150,000 to Texas Search and Rescue and Mercy Chefs on Tuesday.
Alexia Rodriguez
“The first thing that we’ve been doing is making sure all of our associates are accounted for. That is always our number one priority, and thank God, we have accounted for everybody in the affected areas. That’s priority number one, right?” Rodriguez said. “Now, what we’re trying to do is assess property damage. But some folks have not been able to make it back to their homes. Roads have been washed out. They just haven’t even had a chance to eyeball their property themselves.”
Rodriguez said KW Cares is working with KW’s top-line and regional leadership to craft a response plan for the coming weeks. Right now, Rodriguez said it’s important to give first responders room to continue search efforts and secure the riverfront, which is currently covered with debris from nearby homes and campgrounds.
“We can’t be boots on the ground because it’s not appropriate for us to do so right now,” she said. “But we do want to take care of the folks that are taking care of the community. So later this week, we are going to start serving lunches through our business center in Kerrville to the first responders in the area. “We want to make sure that we’re giving back to the community in that way.”
Keller Williams is only one of many brokerages and franchisors rallying their networks to support flood relief efforts, with Anywhere Real Estate, RE/MAX, Douglas Elliman, Compass, Ebby Halliday Realtors, and Epique Realty urging agents to donate to their philanthropic partners, like the American Red Cross, or to their nonprofit arms to support relief efforts.
Texas Realtors also announced its coordination with the National Association of Realtors and local Realtor associations, such as the Central Hill County Board of Realtors and Kerrville Board of Realtors, to disperse funds and other resources to communities throughout the Hill Country.
Christy Gessler
“Texas Realtors is working with and contributing to community organizations in affected areas through the Texas Realtors Disaster Relief Fund to get immediate assistance to those who need it most,” Texas Realtors Chairman of the Board Christy Gessler told Inman in a written statement. “We’re also working with local associations to identify other areas that need help, as this tragedy is ongoing.”
“We know the importance of getting funds and resources to these communities as quickly as possible, and these local organizations are actively providing essential assistance for those in need,” she added. “We also know that many Realtors in these communities and from other locations have come to lend a hand—delivering supplies, clearing debris, and helping out in any way they can.”
Although the nation’s attention is currently focused on the tragedy in Hill Country, D’Amico, Rodriguez, REAL Vice President of U.S Operations Jemila Winsey, and Spyglass Realty broker-owner Ryan Rodenbeck said they understand there will be a day when media attention fades.
Ryan Rodenbeck
“It’s going to take a long time to get all of that cleaned up. So many people lost their businesses, their livelihoods, and their family members,” said Rodenbeck, whose brokerage is raising money for the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and several other area nonprofits. “We have to raise awareness and keep raising awareness. A lot of brokerages have newsletters, and we can use them to keep the story alive and fresh in people’s minds.”
“People are going to be hurting from this for a long time,” he added.
Winsey said the real estate community is in a unique position to help victims walk the long road to recovery.
Jemila Winsey
“What’s been hard to shake is this: just one weekend earlier, we were in Fredericksburg, 31 miles from Kerrville, relaxing with some of our closest friends over wine and laughter. It was calm, beautiful, full of joy,” she said. “And then, just days later, people nearby were clinging to rooftops and losing everything. That contrast has been hard to carry.”
Winsey said this week hasn’t been “about deals or deadlines,” as she’s helped five agents in her circle get to safety. Although everyone can’t make five-figure donations or dedicate a week to volunteering, Winsey said “small acts of kindness” — such as checking in with affected colleagues by call or text, posting links to verified GoFundMe or nonprofit fundraisers on social media, or connecting families with trusted vendors who offer rental, moving or repair services — still make a huge difference.
“Whatever it is, big or small, someone out there could really use it,” she said. “You don’t have to do everything. But doing something from the heart, really makes a difference.”
